I have a number of expired 35mm slide films some expired in 2006. Does anyone have any experience with using expired film and how out of date does the film need to be before the quality of the results change. I assume it will be the colours that are affected by the aging.

I recently shot 2 rolls of color negative film that came with a eBay camera purchase. The film was 6 years out of date. I got nice results, a little odd looking in color balance, but I liked it. What I have always been told is that your results can be unpredictable, but if your shoot is not critical, then have at it and see what come out. Wouldn't recommend it for a friends wedding, but if your out walking about and want to shoot some casual stuff, go ahead.

I love expired film, you never know what result you get. But I have never been disapointed.

yeah i've read that if the stuff's refrigerated, then you shouldn't have to worry too much.

Anna said everything :)

6 years is fine - especially if kept in cool and dry place. Colour film is potentially more prone to changes than BW - but that is only for a pro that knows what he is exactly after.

I have some film now from 1976. Kodak Verichrome PAN. It was designed as a long shelf life film and has been kept the last 33 years in a cool dry place. I am going to have a roll shot tomorrow and then I will develop it and print it. I am going to combine the 20 exposures with my crutches just for the fun of it and see what I get.

I also have some Kodak EIR Colour IR film that I got in HK. Paid a pretty penny for it and it expired in 2005. I actually love the fact that it is expired because I did not buy it to take aerial ground shots for mapping purposes - as is the main use of the film. I bought it to put an orange filter on the front and get whacky colour results.

Cheers,
RF.

Some months ago I gave away loads (100's) of expired films to one who has found his special style using expired film. The older the better was my impression. Use it and see what you get! But don't use it for your paid family reunion shots...

I had a mate leave China and then he gave me a bunch of expired 135 and 120 film. It is how I discovered Agfa APX 100. I have shot all of the 135 of it - but am keeping the 120 for when I can walk and take some cool shots.

120 Agfa APX - my god - I salivate at the thought of it.

Nik SIlver Efex pro - eat your heart out....

I bought a pretty nice batch of expired film a few months ago. Some of it dated back to 1982 but most was from 2003. I just throw everything over date in the freezer. That way you can keep it to pretty much infinity (our at least your own natural life span :P). You do have to take care it's either in it's plastic container (for 135) or in it's plastic sealed wrap (for 120) otherwise there's too much chance of condensing when you take them into room temperature. Whenever you feel like using frozen film just put it at room temperature for a few hours (I usually take it out of the freezer at least one night before I plan to use it). Haven't had any problems with freezing the film so far.

I've shot some Kodak EPY64T and EPR64 from the batch I have. I believe it was from '91 or '93 and it was fine. I've taken 6 months expired rolls of Fuji Pro160S through too many X-rays and they were much worse, although compared to standard consumer film they still were less noisy and had better colours :).

Oh, and if you have a need to recreate an expired film look, try using Fuji Pro160C and cross developing as E-6! It then turns into slides with a slight colour shift giving it an antique feel. Beware of backlit subjects though, they tend to get a much more extreem colour shift, turning white skin tones to a very nice blue :D.

And never throw polaroid or other instant film in the freezer... the chemicals can't take it. That's, of course, if you can still find any ;).